One of the most sobering statistics in Belly of the Beast‘s programme note comes from The School Report 2017: 84% of trans students, including non-binary individuals, self harmed, and 45% attempted suicide.
What are schools for?
Saana Sze‘s debut play explores what it’s like to be non-binary in today’s state school system from the perspective of both student and teacher as seen through the eyes of Martha at different, parallel points in their life.
YoungMartha, a bright and agreeable student, falls in love with Gia, who has had enough of school and teachers that don’t care about tough girls like her.
NowMartha enters the teaching industry, determined to make a positive change, but daunted and soon disillusioned by hierarchy and role requirements.
Black and queer as well as non-binary, YoungMartha and NowMartha are set against rigid systems which insist they conform.
Belly of the Beast, which draws on Saana’s own experiences as a teacher, won the prestigious ETPEP (Experienced Theatre Practitioners Early Playwriting Trust) Award. It’s co-produced by fringe new writing powerhouse, the Finborough Theatre, whose artistic director Neil McPherson was one of the contest’s judges.
At the post-show Q&A, we opened with Neil recounting the Finborough’s long history of presenting new work – with its roll call of playwrights who launched their careers here including James Graham, who has just topped this year’s Stage 100 list – and how difficult it is to continue to do so, post-Covid and with zero subsidy.
I was also joined by writer Saana Sze, director Dadiow Lin, and co-stars Sam Bampoe-Parry (YoungMartha) and Shiloh Coke (NowMartha) to discuss the creative process, issues in the play, islands of design (by Delyth Evans) in the Finborough’s intimate traverse configuration, the meaning of the title, and favourite teachers, amongst other topics.
Belly of the Beast continues at London’s Finborough Theatre until 1 February 2025.
Q&A video
With thanks to Raymond Whitaker.
Q&A photos
With thanks to Iris McCulloch.
On BlueSky
Is more theatre on your #NewYearsResolutions list?
Join me this month for brand-new Off-West End plays!
👉 Tue 14 Jan: The Belly of the Beast @finboroughtheatre.bsky.social
👉 Sun 19 Jan: Firebird @kingsheadtheatre.bsky.social#londontheatre #postshowtalks
terripaddock.com/upcoming-eve…
— Terri Paddock (@terripaddock.bsky.social) January 1, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Finishing the weekend reading Saana Sze’s brilliant #BellyOfTheBeast ahead of my Q&A at @finboroughtheatre.bsky.social on Tue.
Split stage b/t life as student & teacher for the same black, queer young person.
Lots to discuss! Join me!
🎟️ terripaddock.com/events/belly… #theatre #postshowtalks
— Terri Paddock (@terripaddock.bsky.social) January 12, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Signs ready for tonight’s #BellyOfTheBeast post-show Q&A at @finboroughtheatre.bsky.social.
With writer Saana Sze, director Dadiow Lin, actors Shiloh Coke + Sam Bampoe-Parry & West London Queer Project’s Aubrey Crawley.
Any Qs?
🎟️ Join us from 7.30: bit.ly/4jdjONf
#londontheatre #postshowtalks
— Terri Paddock (@terripaddock.bsky.social) January 14, 2025 at 5:35 PM
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